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Thousands say farewell to Cornwall's High-level bridge

Michelle Laffin takes a photo of her grandson and his grandfather, Charlie and Jerome McDonald, at the very spot Jerome had his picture taken at the age of 5 when the North Channel Bridge first opened. The SIBC opened the North Channel Bridge in Cornwall to pedestrians one last time on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 before future demolition. ERIC HEALEY/CORNWALL STANDARD-FREEHOLDER/QMI AGENCY

McDonald, 56, accompanied by his wife Michelle Laffin and grandson Charlie McDonald, 18 months, wanted to get a photograph of Charlie standing in the same spot he did when the bridge first opened to traffic in 1962.

Needless to say, they managed to get the photograph they wanted and then some.

After talking to McDonald for only a few seconds, basically long enough for him to learn the Standard-Freeholder was present, he pulled out a picture from an envelope.

"I have been waiting her for over an hour," he says. "Hoping you guys (Standard-Freeholder) would show up."

The picture is of McDonald, standing in the exact same spot as a youngster on the day the now decommissioned North Channel Bridge opened.

For many years to come, McDonald said he would remember these days and is able to tell his grandson Charlie all about it.

The North Channel Bridge connecting Cornwall Island with the City of Cornwall was teeming with people on Tuesday, who came out to take advantage of the chance to walk the length of the bridge before construction crews begin demolition.

The Federal Bridge Corp. Ltd. offered the public this opportunity for one last walk down memory lane and the turnout was much more than expected.

"We did it Cornwall," President and CEO of the FBC Micheline Dube said. "Now finally the old one will be coming down."

Dube welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to this "historical tribute to the old North Channel bridge."

"I think everyone is pleased we decided to take action and do this," she said. "The North Channel bridge has towered over the City of Cornwall for more than half a century and it has become a well known landmark for generations or resident and visitors alike... You get off the highway, what do you see, you see the bridge."

Dube said whether you enjoyed the architecture of the bridge and the trip across or you were afraid of the height and noise of the bumps, the bridge was a part of everyone's life.

"Everyone in his or her own way has a connection to this bridge," said Dube.

She said the demolition of the bridge was one "of great scope."

"We are confident the contractor, the American Bridge Canada, are up to the challenge," said Dube. Dube said they were in the process of finalizing the last details of the demolition process and promised to share highlights with the community in the weeks ahead.

"Throughout the project we have had a steady stream of followers," said Dube. "We sincerely hope you will enjoy this one last walk on the old North Channel bridge."

It's still a period of transition, as people adjust to the new bridge opened in November.

"We've been really looking forward to the new low-level bridge," said Wade Dorland, General Manager of the Seaway International Bridge Corp. "We no longer want people to ask us why is the bridge so big.

"Going ahead with the Seaway it was noticed we were now a first class power," said Dorland. "One American official said it best when he said 'Canada's decision to build the St. Lawrence Seaway as an all-Canadian project has seized the imagination of Canadians. It is a symbol of your new found strength'."

In the end, Dorland said, Canada partnered with the U.S. and built a joint seaway.

Dorland said more than 84-million vehicles have crossed the bridge in the past 52 years.

Turnout at the start of the event was more than Dorland expected.

"We thought we would only get a few hundred people," he said.

But thousands turned out to walk the bridge, including MP Guy Lauzon who said at 17 he worked on the bridge polishing the curbs before being promoted to gravel duty.

Paul Briseboise took the opportunity to take a lot of pictures.

"It was wonderful," he said. "We couldn't stop and take pictures before. This was once in a lifetime chance."

Theresa Martin said she was a little nervous about being so high up and looking down, especially when Jacob Martin told her how high she was, but still considered the opportunity "Awesome." For Jacob, however, he said it was great, but since he worked on the bridge, not such a big deal.